Turbine and condenser construction



Oct. 17, 1950 K. R. STEARNS TURBINE AND CONDENSER CONSTRUCTION '3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 6, 1946 NETH g STEARNS ATTORNEY Oct. 17, 1950K. R. STEARNS TURBINE AND CONDENSER CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledNov. 6, 1946 INVENTOR KENNETH R. STEARNS I I'D,M

ATTORNEY Oct. 17, 1950 K. R. STEARNSC TURBINE AND CONDENSER CONSTRUCTIONFiled Nov. 6, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 0v, I M ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 17,1950 2,526,430 TURBINE AND CONDENSER CONSTRUCTION Kenneth R.Stearns,Springfield, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation,East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November6, 1946,

5 Claims.

The invention relates to a turbine having an exhaust nozzle and acondenser into which steam is discharged by the nozzle and it has for anobject to provide apparatus of this character with means for supportingthe turbine on the condenser and with a joint connecting the exhaustnozzle to the condenser and constructed and arranged to provide forrelative movement of the nozzle and the condenser in the direction oflength of the nozzle and to hold the latter against lateral movement sothat it cooperates with the supporting means to confine the turbine axisagainst transverse movement by holding it vertically and horizontally.

Another object of the invention is to provide a turbine and a condensercarried by a bedplate or sup-porting structure with an exhaust nozzleconnection between the turbine and the condenser.

A further object of the invention is to provide for the aforesaidsupporting means accommodating for radial and axial expansion of theturbine with the joint arranged to hold the exhaust end of the turbineagainst axial movement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a turbine supported on acondenser, and wherein the supporting means at the exhaust end issubject to temperature changes which are 'rela.- tively small ascompared to temperature changes of the nozzle for exhausting steam fromthe turbine into the condenser, together with a diaphragm connecting theexhaust nozzle and the condenser and positioned so that it is flexiblein the direction of length of the nozzle and, holds the latterlaterallygin relation to the condenser, whereby the nozzle is free toexpand and contract without disturbing the alignment of the adjacentbearing while the exhaust end of the turbine is held against axial andtransverse movements.

Another object of the invention is to-provide a condenser and a turbinewherein the turbine includes a casing having an exhaust nozzle fordischarging steam into the condenser, a pedestal, a vertically flexibletie plate connecting the inlet end of the casing and the pedestal, apair of columns for supporting the exhaust end of. the casing on thecondenser, and axially flexible plate means for supporting the pedestalon the condenser together with a diaphragm connected to the condenserand welded to the exhaust nozzle, the diaphragm being flexible in thedirection of length of the nozzle and holding the latter laterally andcooperating with said columns and the axially flexible plate means toconfine the turbine axis against transverse movement "by Serial No.708,109

holding it vertically and horizontally and, with the columns and theaxially flexible plate means accommodating for radial and axialexpansion of the turbine, to hold the exhaust end of the turbinelaterally and axially.

The foregoing and other objects are effected by the invention as will beapparent from the following description and claims taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, inwhich: 7

Fig. l is aside elevational view of the improved unitary power plant;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; v I

Fig. 3 is a'sectionalview taken alongthe line III--III of Fig. 1; f

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail View of the joint structure connecting theturbine nozzle and the condenser; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing a modified jointstructure. 7

In the drawing, there is shown a power plant including a condenser 5constituting the foundation or support for the turbine, at 5, and thegenerator I driven thereby. The turbine and the generator have theiraxes aligned and arranged parallel to the condenser so that the lattermay function to the best advantage as a supporti The turbine 6 comprisesa casing B and a spindle held in proper relation thereto by the exhaustend journal bearing in carried by the casing and by the journal bearingH and thrust bearing, l2 carried by the pedestal M connected to the casing in the manner hereinafter described. The condenser has an exhaustinlet opening l5 and the turbine has an exhaust nozzle It for disecharging exhaust steam into the condenser.

As more particularly described and claimed in my application Serial No.708,880, filed November 9, 19516, now Patent No. 2,464,357, thecondenser 5 is formed with supporting girder structures It at its sides,the girder structures serving to support the condenser, the turbine, andthe generator from the-foundation.

The generator is supported by columns is whose lower ends are carried byand connected to the girder structures l8. Similarly, the exhaust end ofthe turbine is supported by and connected to the upper ends of columns25! whose lower ends are supported by and connected to the girderstructures, the upper ends of such columns being connected to theturbine casing 8 at. the horizontal joint. f

At its inlet end, the turbine casing 8 is formed with feet '22 bearingon abutments 23 unitary with the bearing pedestal l4 connected to thecasing by a tie plate 25 positioned for flexing vertically.

The bearing pedestal i4 is carried by the upper edges of plates 26 and21 whose lower edges are connected to the condenser, said platesextending in vertical planes normal to the turbine axis so as to beflexible in the direction of the latter.

The structure described supports the turbine so that it is free toexpand radially and axially and the joint, at 28, more particularlyhereinafter described, cooperates with the condenser to hold the exhaustnozzle laterally and it thereby cooperates With the turbine-supportingmeans to confine the turbine axis against transverse movement by holdingit vertically and horizontally.

At the exhaust end, as the exhaust nozzle is connected to the condenserby the joint, at 28, hereinafter described, the turbine casing is freeto expand laterally or radially in all directions, i

the columns 26, which support the casing and hold the turbine axisvertically, being capable of flexing to the extent required.

At the inlet end, the turbin casing is free to expand radially, theconnecting tie plate flexing vertically and the feet 22 slidinghorizontally on the abutments 23 to the extent required. In thisconnection, the hold-down bolts 29 for the feet extend through largeropenings in the latter so that the feet are capable of being displacedrelative to the bolts, as is well known in the art.

With respect to axial expanson of the turbine, as the exhaust end of thecasing is held by means of the columns 28 and by the exhaust nozzle andcondenser joint structure, at 28 and hereinafter described, provision ismade fo such expansion at the inlet end, expansion of the casingactingthrough the tie plate 25 to move the bearing pedestal l4 axially, thesupporting plates 26 and l 21 flexing axially to the required extent.While the plates 26 and 27 are capable of flexing to accommodate axialmovement, such plates are stiif or very rigid in their planes with theresult that they cooperate to hold the turbine axis transversely.

As the exhaust end of the turbine may be subject to temperature changes,as when starting before the vacuum has built upin the condenser or when,for any reason, the vacuum is lost and the turbine runs non-condensing,the exhaust nozzle is subject to such temperature changes, while thecolumns 29, being exposed to ambient air, or being in poor heatconductive relation to the exhaust nozzle, undergo little, if any, intemperature. Therefore, the exhaust end of the turbine were supported bythe exhaust nozzle, changes in length of the latter would disturb theposition of the turbine axis vertically.

On the other hand, if the exhaust end of the turbine were supported andconnected to the supporting structure both by the nozzle and by thecolumns, the differential expansion and contraction thereof would resultin destructive stresses of the structure Or distortion thereof anddisturbance of the position of the turbine axis.

In order that the exhaust end of the turbine may be supported with theturbine axis held vertically, while at the same time the exhaust nozzleis permitted to expand and contract in the direction of its length,there is provided the joint, at 28, connecting the exhaust nozzleto thecondenser. In addition to accommodating for length-wise contraction andexpansion of the exhaust nozzle 16, the joint holds the nozzle changeagainst lateral movement with the result that it is effective to holdthe casing axially at the exhaust end and to hold the turbine axisaxially and horizontally, it being remembered that the casing and theturbine spindle are rotatably connected by the bearing pedestal thrustbearing 12, in consequence of which, with the exhaust end of the casingheld axially and with axial expansion of the casing, the inlet end ofthe casing and the pedestal move axially.

Preferably, the joint, at 28, is comprised by an annular metallicdiaphragm 3! whose outer edge is secured to the condenser and Whoseinner edge is joined to the nozzle, the diaphragm deflecting toaccommodate for lengthwise expansion and contraction of the nozzle andhas great stiffness or strength in its plane, or laterally of theexhaust nozzle, giving it the capability of holding the latter so thatthe turbine is held axially at the exhaust end. As the means alreadydescribed for supporting the turbine accommodates for radial and axialexpansion thereof, holding of the exhaust nozzle laterally coacts withthe supporting means to confine the turbine axis against lateralmovement by holding it vertically and horizontally.

The condenser is formed with an annular seat 32 about the exhaust inletopening 65 and the diaphragm is shown as being welded both to the seatand to the nozzle. The diaphragm facilitates final assembly for thereason that, with it connected to the seat in any suitable manner,cumulative dimensional errors may be absorbed by weld connecting itsinner edge to the exhaust nozzle. 7

As shown in Figs. 1 to l, inclusive, the seat 32 is provided by acircumferential or ring member 3 1 welded, at 35, to the condenser andthe diaphragm 3! is connected to the member 8:3 by exterior and interiorwelds 36 and 3?. The inner edge of the diaphragm is welded, at 33, tothe exhaust nozzle. With this construction, the weld 38 provides forabsorption of errors, as just described.

Fig. 5 is similar to Fig. 4 except that, instead of the weld 38connecting the diaphragm to the nozzle, 9, weld 39 connects thediaphragm to the joint ring 49 connected by screws 6! to the ring 42welded, at 38a, to the nozzle. With the ring 34 welded to the condenserand the diaphragm 3| welded to the ring, as before, and with the ring atwelded to the diaphragm and connected by the screws to the ring 42, thelatter is welded to the nozzle so that cumulative dimensional errors maybe absorbed. The modified joint construction has the advantage that theexhaust nozzle may be disconnected from the condenser merely by removalof the screws 4| without cutting the diaphragm or welds.

While the condenser and its side girders, illustrated and described,constitute a condenser aggregate. it is to be understood that condenser,as used in the claims, has the significance of any condenser capable ofcarrying the turbine-supporting means herein described and claimed.Also, it is to be understood that annular, as descriptive of the shapeof the diaphragm, has the significance of conformity to the shellopening and to the nozzle, that is, it may be circular, oblong, or anysuitable shape.

While the invention has been shown in several forms, it will be obviousto those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but issusceptible of various other changes and modifications Without departingfrom the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is: i

1. In a power plant, a horizontal condenser having a shell provided withan exhaust steaminlet opening, a horizontal turbine provided with asubstantially vertical exhaust nozzle, means for supporting the turbineat its inlet and exhaust.

ends on the condenser shell and providing for axial and radial expansionthereof, said supporting means at the exhaust end being subject totemperature changes which are relatively small in relation totemperature changes of the exhaust nozzle, and an expansion jointconnecting the exhaust nozzle and the haust steam issuing from thenozzle passes through said inlet opening into the condenser shell saidexpansion joint including an annular diaphragm whose outer edge issecured in sealed relation with respect to the shell and about theexhaust steam inlet opening and whose inner edge is secured in sealedrelation to and about the lower end of the nozzle, said diaphragm beinghorizontal to provide flexibility in a vertical condenser shell so thatexdirection enabling the nozzle to move vertically relative to the shelland to provide horizontal stiffness to hold the turbine axially and, incooperation with said supporting means, to hold the turbine axisvertically and horizontally.

2. In a power plant, a horizontal condenser having a shell provided withan inlet opening for exhaust steam; a horizontal turbine including acasing provided with an exhaust nozzle, a bearing pedestal, and meansconnecting the inlet end of the turbine and the pedestal and comprisinga vertically flexible tie plate and feet unitary with the casing andbearin on the pedestal; means for supporting the casing and the pedestalon the condenser shell and cooperating with said connecting means toprovide for radial and axial expansion of the turbine; said meanscomprising columns connected to the exhaust end of the casing and to thecondenser shell and axially flexible plate means connected to thecondenser shell and to the pedestal; and an expansion joint connectingthe exhaust nozzle and the condenser shell so that exhaust steam issuingzle passes through the inlet opening into the condenser shell; saidexpansion joint including an annular diaphragm whose outer edge issecured in sealed relation with respect to the shell and about theexhaust steam inlet opening and whose inner edge is secured in sealedrelation to and about the lower end of the nozzle; said diaphragm beinghorizontal to provide flexibility in a vertical direction enabling thenozzle to move vertically relative to the shell and to providehorizontal stiffness to hold th turbine axially and, in cooperation withsaid supporting means, to hold the turbine axis vertically andhorizontally.

from the noz-.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the expansion joint includesan outer ring welded to the outer edge of the diaphragm and to the shelland a welded connection for joining the inner edge of the diaphragm andthe exhaust nozzle.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the expansion joint includesan outer ring welded to the outer edge of the diaphragm and of theshell, a pair of superposed rings, one of which is welded to the inneredge of the diaphragm and the other of which is welded to the exhaustnozzle, and screws compressively engaging the superposed rings insealing relation.

5; In a horizontal power plant, a turbine including a casing providedwith an exhaust nozzle, a horizontal condenser extending parallel to theturbine axis and having a shell provided with an inlet opening forexhaust steam, means for supporting the turbine casing on the condensershell and carrying the turbine reaction torque, said means includinglegs connected at their ends to the exhaust end of the turbine and tothe condenser, said legs being structurally separate from the exhaustnozzle so as to be subject to the temperature of ambient air while thenozzle is subject to the temperature of the exhaust, and an expansionjoint connecting the exhaust nozzle andthe condenser shell, so thatexhaust steam issuing from the nozzle flows through said inlet openinginto the condenser shell said expansion joint including an annulardiaphragrnwhose outer edge is secured in sealed relation with respect tothe shell. and about the exhaust steam inlet opening and whose inneredge is secured in sealed relation to and about the lower end of thenozzle, said diaphragm provide flexibility in a vertical directionenabling the nozzle to move vertically relative to the shell and toprovide horizontalstiffness to hold the turbine axially and, incooperation with said supporting means, to hold the turbine axisvertically and horizontally.

KENNETH R. STEARNS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name a Date 1,754,426 Hodgkinson Apr. 15,1930 1,780,476 Grace NOV. 4:, 1930 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date600,126 Germany July 14, 1934 being horizontal to

